Palestinian killed after stabbing Israeli police officer

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli military and police shot two Palestinians, one fatally, after separate stabbing attacks on security forces in the West Bank on Saturday, authorities said.

Police spokeswoman Luba Samri said a Palestinian approached officers conducting a routine security check and stabbed one in the back with a knife, moderately wounding him. An officer nearby opened fire and killed the attacker, identified by doctors at Rafidia hospital in Nablus as 21-year-old Rafeq Ahmad al-Taj.

Earlier in the day, a Palestinian was shot by Israeli troops after asking soldiers at a West Bank border crossing for a glass of water, then stabbing the soldier who turned to get it, the military said.

The soldier was treated at the scene and the Palestinian was taken to a hospital with a light shoulder wound, the military said.

Israeli media said the Palestinian told investigators he carried out the attack after arguing with his father. Channel 10 TV identified him as a 19-year-old from a nearby village and cited security officials as saying he acted independently from any militant group.

The attacks came as Israelis and Palestinians follow the fate of a Palestinian hunger striker who slipped into unconsciousness a day earlier after a 60-day fast to protest his detention without charge. Mohammed Allan, 30, remained hospitalized in southern Israel.

Allan was arrested in November 2014 and detained for two six-month periods under a measure called administrative detention that allows authorities to hold detainees for months without charges.

Israel says the practice is a necessary tool to stop militant activity. Authorities said Allan was being held for his activities in Islamic Jihad, a group which has carried out numerous violent attacks against civilians.

Palestinian prisoners have held rounds of hunger strikes in recent years, sparking tension in the streets.

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Associated Press writer Mohammed Daraghmeh in Ramallah, West Bank contributed to this report.